Method for gasifying solid organic materials and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A method for gasifying solid organic materials, a novel apparatus for that purpose, and a system therefor. A unique method and apparatus that produces a high energy, low temperature, low particulate-laden syngas by controlling the oxygen content in combustion air used for “starved air” combustion of biomass in a unique gasifier. Recirculated flue gas containing a predetermined amount of fresh air is utilized for the oxygen content therein and for controlling the method.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 60/801,574 filed May 18, 2006.

The invention disclosed and claimed herein deals with a method forgasifying solid organic materials, the novel apparatus for that purpose,and a system therefor. The instant invention is a unique method andapparatus that produces a high energy, low temperature, and lowparticulate-laden syngas by controlling the oxygen content in combustionair used for “starved air” combustion of biomass in a unique gasifier.Recirculated flue gas mixed with a predetermined amount of fresh air isutilized for providing the oxygen content therein and for controllingthe method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

More particularly, this invention deals with a method for gasifyingbiomass materials, such as forestry and agricultural residues,industrial waste materials such as saw mill pulp, paper products, fowllitter, such as chicken litter and turkey litter, and hydrocarbon basedplastics and the like.

This invention also deals with the apparatus that is used to convert thechemical energy into thermal energy or gaseous products, andspecifically, syngas, that is also called production gas. Syngas is acompressible synthetic combustible gas containing very littleparticulate material. Thus, this invention can also be viewed as amethod of producing syngas.

It has long been recognized that many industrial and agricultural solidorganic by-products, such as forestry and agricultural residue, and thelike, are a potential source of large amounts of chemical energy. Thesubstantial increases in the cost of traditional fuels, such as fuel,oil and natural gas, which occurred during the 1970's, have providedsubstantial economic incentive to try to develop effective and efficienttechniques for recovering the energy in these organic by-products,energy that traditionally was not recovered to any substantial extent.Such organic materials, frequently referred to as “biomass” materials,are now successfully utilized to some extent as fuel in some very largeindustrial systems, for example, in firing the power boiler and therecovery boiler in a pulp or paper mill. However the high capital costthat has heretofore been associated with biomass energy recovery systemshas precluded their successful use in small or even medium size energyrecovery systems.

Medium size energy recovery systems are used in community centers,schools, nursing homes, and small industrial and commercialestablishments and, to date, biomass fuels have not been satisfactorilyutilized as fuels in heating systems for such facilities. Among the U.S.patents that have issued on inventions relating to the recovery ofenergy from wood chips or similar organic materials are for example,U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,957 that issued to Morey, et al. on Aug. 18, 1992;U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,436 that issued to Palm, et al. Jan. 22, 1980; U.S.Pat. No. 4,312,278 that issued to Smith, et al. on Jan. 26, 1982; U.S.Pat. No. 4,366,802 that issued to Goodine on Jan. 4, 1983; U.S. Pat. No.4,321,877 that issued to Schmidt, et al on Mar. 30, 1982; U.S. Pat. No.4,430,948 that issued to Schafer, et al. on Feb. 14, 1984; U.S. Pat. No.4,593,629 that issued to Pedersen, et al. on Jun. 10, 1986; U.S. Pat.No. 4,691,846 that issued to Cordell, et al. on Sep. 8, 1987, and U.S.Pat. No. 4,971,599 that issued to Cordell on Nov. 20, 1990.

However, it is not known that any of the inventions described in thesepatents have been successfully adapted to recover biomass energy on acost-effective basis in small and medium size energy recovery systems.

Thus, gasifiers are not new in the art and there are many publicationsdealing with such pieces of equipment and systems in which they areused, but by way of illustration, attention can be directed to U.S. Pat.No. 4,691,846 that issued on Sep. 8, 1987 to Cordell, et al, in whichthere is described a method and apparatus for gasifying solid organicmaterials in which the system is described in detail with emphasis onthe hopper and its manner of operation. It should be noted that thegasifier is shown and described as a dome-like structure with a bottomfeed mechanism for the solid organic materials, and an upper exhaustsystem to remove the gaseous effluent to a secondary chamber.

A second disclosure can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,567 that issuedon Sep. 19, 2000 to Cordell, et al in which there is described a methodof gasifying solid organic materials and in which a similar apparatusand system as is disclosed in the '846 patent is set forth. The '567patent is related to the '846 patent. Again, it should be emphasizedthat the gasifier is shown and described as a dome-like structure havinga bottom feed and an upper exhaust for the gaseous effluent.

A typical and general process in the prior art can be found in Canadianpatent 2,058,103 that issued on Oct. 14, 1997 in the name of Morey, etal. in which a bottom feed, biomass materials, and gasification systemis set forth. The system feeds fuel such as green and wet woodchips frombelow, up through a central opening in a stationary, perforate firetable that supports the mound-like fuel bed that is formed thereby. Aplurality of ring-like manifolds below the fire table, and surroundingthe fuel supply tube are separately provided with air in a controlledmanner according to the demand for the combustible gas produced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic of embodiments of this invention utilizinggasifiers and methods of this invention showing a portion of theembodiments.

FIG. 1B is a schematic of embodiments of this invention utilizinggasifiers and methods of this invention showing additional portions ofthe embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a full front view of a circular gasifier of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional front view of the gasifier of FIG. 2 throughline A-A.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of the radar device used in this invention.

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of one configuration of a segmented,round cone feed of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of one configuration of a segmented,square cone feed of this invention.

FIG. 5A is a view in perspective of a unitary, round cone feed of thisinvention

FIG. 6A is a view in perspective of a unitary, square cone feed of thisinvention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the area designated 28 of FIG. 3,showing the detail of the moveable cone feed and the bottom tuyeres.

FIG. 8 is a full front view of a square or rectangular, loaf gasifier ofthis invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional end view of the loaf gasifier of FIG. 8,through line B-B.

FIG. 10A is a cross sectional view showing the detailed construction ofthe walls and roof of the gasifier of this invention having aninsulation layer.

FIG. 10B is a cross sectional view showing another embodiment of thisinvention and the detailed construction of the walls and roof withoutinsulation and using air as the insulation.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a roof of a loaf gasifier of thisinvention showing two exit ports and how radar is placed thereon.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the roof of FIG. 11, showing theconstruction of the roof.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the ash collection system of the gasifier ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a gasifier 1 of this invention with the sidesopen to show another embodiment of a grate system of this invention.

FIG. 15 is a side cross section view of the grates of FIG. 14 throughline C-C of FIG. 14.

THE INVENTION

Thus this invention deals with a method for gasifying solid organicmaterials, the apparatus used in such a method, and a system thereforand with specificity, it deals with, in one embodiment, a gasifier forgasifying solid organic materials comprising in combination a housing,wherein the housing has a lower portion and an upper portion and acircular side wall supported by the lower portion and attached to theupper portion.

There is a roof for the housing, the roof being supported by andintegral with the circular sidewall. There is at least one openingthrough the roof for exiting syngas effluent and at least one openingfor a sensing device and located at, and connected to, the roof opening,is a device for removing the syngas from the gasifier.

Located at, and associated with the sensing device opening, there is atleast one device for sensing the elevation of any mass of any solidorganic material contained in the housing, the sensing device being aradar device that is mounted over any sensing device opening andsurmounts a non-metallic plate that covers the opening.

Located in the lower housing there is at least one opening forsupporting a device for determining the amount of non-combustiblematerial remaining within the gasifier, and located at, and connectedto, the lower portion of the housing, and within the opening forsupporting a device for determining the amount of non-combustiblematerial remaining within the gasifier there is at least one device fordetermining the amount of non-combustible material remaining within thegasifier.

Located in the circular wall, there is at least one opening forsupporting at least one device for providing oxidative gas to the solidorganic materials, the oxidative gas being recirculated flue gascontaining a predetermined portion of fresh air. Located in, andconnected to the oxidative gas opening is a device for providing anoxidative gas to the solid organic materials.

There is a floor for the gasifier located in the lower portion of thegasifier, the floor having a top surface and a bottom surface, the floorhaving at least one opening through it to allow for the passage of solidorganic material into the interior of the gasifier, wherein the topsurface of the floor has a retaining wall on the outside of each of thefloor openings to form a retention basin to retain the solid organicmaterials in the lower portion of the gasifier to form a floorlesshearth.

There is a device for moving solid organic materials through the flooropening and into the gasifier in an upwardly motion and a device forproviding and retaining a cone structure to the underside of the solidorganic materials.

The gasifier has a device for containing the solid organic materialswhile above the retention basin and at least one opening in the lowerportion of the gasifier to allow movement of non-combustibles out of thegasifier, along with a device in the retention basin for removingnon-combustible materials out of the gasifier.

Finally, there is a control and monitor for the amount of mass of solidorganic material within the gasifier and a control and monitor for theamount of non-combustibles in the gasifier that are inter-related. Thistype of gasifier is known in the art as a circular gasifier.

In another embodiment, the invention deals with a square or rectangular“loaf” gasifier. Thus, this embodiment deals with a gasifier forgasifying solid organic materials comprising a housing, wherein thehousing has a lower portion and an upper portion and the housing hasfour side walls supported by the lower portion and attached to the upperportion, thus differing from the above-mentioned circular gasifier.

The loaf gasifier has a roof, the roof being supported by and integralwith the four side walls and the gasifier has at least one openingthrough a side wall for exiting syngas effluent and at least one openingthrough the roof for a sensing device.

Located at, and connected to the side wall opening, is a device forremoving the gaseous effluent from the gasifier and located at, andassociated with the sensing device opening, there is at least one devicefor sensing the elevation of any mass of any solid organic materialcontained in the housing, said sensing device being a radar device thatis mounted over any sensing device opening and that surmounts anon-metallic plate that covers the opening.

Located in the lower housing there is at least one opening forsupporting a device for determining the amount of non-combustiblematerial remaining within the gasifier and located at, and connected tothe lower portion of the housing, and within the opening described justSupra, there is at least one device for determining the amount ofnon-combustible material remaining within the gasifier.

Located in the sidewalls there is at least one opening for supporting atleast one device for providing oxidative gas to the solid organicmaterials, the oxidative gas being recirculated flue gas containing apredetermined portion of fresh air. Located in, and connected to theoxidative gas opening, is a device for providing an oxidative gas to thesolid organic materials.

There is a floor for the gasifier located in the lower portion of thegasifier, the floor having a top surface and a bottom surface. The floorhas at least one opening through it to allow for the passage of solidorganic material into the interior of the gasifier, wherein the topsurface of the floor has a retaining wall on the outside of each of thefloor openings to form a retention basin to retain the solid organicmaterials in the lower portion of the gasifier to form a floorlesshearth.

There is a device for moving solid organic materials through the flooropening and into the gasifier and a device for providing and retaining acone structure to the underside of the solid organic materials.

In addition, there is a device for heating the solid organic materialswhile above the retention basin and at least one opening in the lowerportion of the gasifier to allow movement of non-combustibles out of thegasifier, along with a device in the retention basin for removingnon-combustible materials out of the gasifier.

Finally, there is a control and monitor for the amount of mass of solidorganic material within the gasifier and a control and monitor for theamount of non-combustibles in the gasifier that are inter-related.

In another embodiment, the circular gasifier described Supra is modifiedto alter the flow of effluent by providing a constriction in themidsection of the gasifier. Thus, there is a gasifier for gasifyingsolid organic materials comprising a housing wherein the housing has alower portion having a top part and an upper portion having a bottompart and the housing has a circular side wall supported by the lowerportion and attached to the upper portion, wherein the circular sidewall has a constricted section where the top part of the lower portionand the bottom part of the upper portion meet and join.

In yet another embodiment of this invention, the loaf gasifier describedSupra is also modified. Thus, there is a gasifier for gasifying solidorganic materials comprising a housing wherein the housing has a lowerportion with a top part and an upper portion with a bottom part and thehousing has four side walls supported by the lower portion and attachedto the upper portion and the side walls have a constricted section wherethe top part of the lower portion and the bottom part of the upperportion meet and join.

There is still another embodiment of this invention, said embodimentbeing a method of gasifying solid organic materials to produce a gaseouseffluent and a solid residue, the method comprising providing a supplyof solid organic material and providing a circular gasifier as set forthin this disclosure.

Thereafter, the solid organic materials are introduced into the gasifierupwardly from a lower portion of the gasifier to provide a mass of solidorganic materials in the gasifier. The solid organic materials areignited and then heated in the gasifier while providing an oxidative gasto the gasifier, the oxidative gas being recirculated flue gas from aflue stack located in a system in which the gasifier is operating and,the oxidative gas is flue gas containing a predetermined portion offresh air.

There is provided an effluent path of flow within the gasifier for aportion of the gaseous effluent to migrate, mix, and react through theheated solid organic materials and the syngas formed thereby istransferred outwardly from the gasifier and any non-combustible solidsare transferred out of the gasifier.

A further embodiment of this invention is a method of gasifying solidorganic material to produce a gaseous effluent and a solid residue, saidmethod comprising providing a supply of solid organic material andproviding a loaf gasifier as set forth in this disclosure andintroducing the solid organic materials into the gasifier upwardly froma lower portion of the gasifier to provide a mass of solid organicmaterials in the gasifier.

The solid organic materials are ignited and then heated in the gasifierwhile providing an oxidative gas to the gasifier to provide a gaseouseffluent, wherein the oxidative gas is recirculated flue gas from a fluestack located in a system in which the gasifier is operating and, theoxidative gas is flue gas containing a predetermined portion of freshair.

There is provided an effluent path of flow within the gasifier for aportion of the gaseous effluent to migrate, mix, and react through theheated solid organic materials and the syngas formed thereby istransferred outwardly from the gasifier and any non-combustible solidsare transferred out of the gasifier.

It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to provide systemsthat utilize each of the various gasifiers disclosed and claimed in thisinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown therein a full front view of acircular gasifier 1 of this invention having a solid mass feeder 2 andan ash removal system 4.

Thus, there is shown a gasifier 1 of this invention that is a circulargasifier that is equipped with a solid mass feeder 2 (shown in FIG. 1),having a collection bin 5 that is connected by auger feed 3 to thebottom 9 (FIG. 2) of the gasifier 1. It should be noted that the solidmass feeder 2 runs essentially horizontally 7 beneath the gasifier 1 andthen turns essentially ninety degrees vertically 8 and thus feeds thegasifier 1 from the center of the bottom 9 of the gasifier 1. The solidmass feeder 2, in the horizontal run 7 can be shrouded or it can be anopen trough. It is shown as solid mass feed 2 that is covered by ashroud 6 enclosing the auger feed 3 (FIG. 3).

The solid mass materials are first comminuted or chopped, if it isforestry product, so that it will flow and be ignited readily. Generallythis chopped material is best handled if the pieces are at least 3inches or less in any dimension. If the solid mass material is chickenlitter or turkey litter, then chopping is not required.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a circular gasifier of thisinvention showing the gasifier 1, the auger feed 3, the shroud 6, thehorizontal run 7 and the vertical run 8. The gasifier per se comprisesin combination, a housing 10 that has a circular side wall 11 supportedby the lower portion, generally shown as 12, of the housing 10. Thecircular sidewall 11 is attached to the upper portion indicatedgenerally as 13. The housing 10 is surmounted by a roof 14, the roof 14being supported by, and integral with the circular sidewall 11.

Shown in FIG. 3 is an exit opening 15 through the roof 14 that is usedfor exiting syngas from the method of this invention. Also shown is asensing device 16 that is positioned over an opening 17 (shown in FIG.3). The sensing device 16 is a radar that is used to monitor the top ofthe solid mass 18 shown in FIG. 3. For purposes of illustration, onlyone such device 16 is shown, but it is within the scope of thisinvention to use more than one such device 16, and it is preferred touse at least three such devices 16 and more preferred to use at least 5such devices 16 on the gasifier as the height of the solid mass pile 18is critical to providing particulate free, quality syngas. Details ofthe construction of the device 16 is shown in 4 and how it may bepositioned on the gasifier 1 is shown in FIG. 3

The control of pile height is of critical importance for combustioncontrol and the release of gaseous combustibles, i.e., the “productgas”. The location of feed cone(s) 25 and vertical auger(s) are designedto provide a pile having a generous depth, and which has a generallyflat upper periphery. This flat, mesa-like upper surface extends over 60to 70 percent of the floor area, generally filling the lower portion ofgasifier 1, and sharply tapers downward adjacent wall 11. This downwardtaper, referred to as the angle of repose, is dependent upon the type offuel used. A flat fuel pile is key to achieving uniform combustionwithout bridging. This flat configuration results in a uniform piledepth, which in turn results in uniform air pressure within the pile 18,thus minimizing channeling of the pile. Maintaining pile depth is veryimportant. About 6 inches or more of ash is maintained below theactively burning portion of the pile so as to prevent heat damage tofeed cone 25 and ash removal system 4.

As the feed material in the 18 in gasifier 1 moves to the feed cone 25to the center and top of the mass, it gets hotter and hotter, andvolatile components in such material and combustion products begin todissipate from the surface of the pile, partly being assisted by thegases that are rising through such material. As the feed material in thepile 18 loses more and more of the volatile and pyrolytic ingredients itwill begin to form high molecular weight carbonaceous derivatives andchar until, eventually, it is exposed to the full operating temperatureinside gasifier 1. This material moves generally horizontally outwardand then downward toward the outer wall and lower floor where it isexposed to further oxidation agents via tuyere arrays 32 and 34 for amore complete reaction, at which time all of the organic constituents ofsuch feed material will gasify and will pass from gasifier 1 as anincompletely oxidized gaseous effluent of combustibles (syngas), theeffluent leaving gasifier 1 through an insulated exit duct 52. Thevelocity of the effluent above the fuel pile and out the exit duct iskept low, reducing particulate carryover.

It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to provideair-modified flue gas (oxidative gas), steam modified ambient air orsteam modified pure oxygen to the burning piles 18 and 71 through therespective tuyeres fitted on the gasifiers 1 and 60.

Feed rate into gasifier 1 is monitored and controlled by monitoring andcontrolling fuel pile height within gasifier 1. Suitableinstrumentation, not shown, is provided to control the rate of thedelivery of the feed material into gasifier 1 by the feed assembly as afunction of the elevation of the top of the feed material in the heightof pile 18 to maintain such elevation at a substantially constant value,and thereby to contain the pile 18 of feed material at a substantiallyconstant shape

Turning to FIG. 4, there is shown the roof 14 of a circular gasifier 1upon which is mounted a radar device 16. The device 16 is housed in anopen housing 21 and supported by adjustable fasteners 19 and has thecapacity to be adjusted angularly on swiveled fasteners 20 so that thecontour of the solid mass 18 in the interior of the gasifier 1 can besensed. The device 16, in its housing 21, is mounted over a non-metallicplate 22. The plates 22 have to be non-metallic so that the device 16can beam into the interior of the gasifier 1 and sense the top of thesolid mass pile 18. It should be noted that the opening in the gasifieris only an opening in the metal cladding, and not an opening through thefirebrick contained in the interior.

As the solid mass pile 18 burns, it creates a certain amount of ash thatmust be removed from the gasifier 1. Therefore, there is at least onetrench 24 provided in the gasifier floor featuring one or more devicesfor removal of ash and combustion residues and for control of theelevation of the “moving bed of ash” hearth. A most adaptable device isan auger 26 shown in FIG. 3 (end view only). In FIGS. 2 and 3, there aretwo trenches 24, one on either side of a centrally located feed cone 25that will be described infra. The ash augers 26 in the trenches 24 movethe ash towards points of discharge 27 suitably located at the end orbottom of the trenches 24. The trenches 24 are connected to a bin or aconveyor of suitable design for further disposal of the ash (see FIG.1). The connections are standard connections and are not shown herein.

The formation of the ash creates a floorless hearth in the gasifier 1 onwhich the burning solid mass pile 18 is situated. By intermittent orcontinuous ash removal, there is created a “moving bed of ash” which isessentially the floorless hearth 30 of this invention.

Alternatively, the control of the “moving bed of ash” level that createsthe hearth 30, and the removal of the ash, can be accomplished by aconveyor or conveyors moving across the entire floor, or sectionthereof, from side to side, or end to end of the gasifier as deemed mostsuitable for the dimensions and shape of the “moving bed of ash” hearth30, or alternatively, a set, or sets, of dump grates can be insertedunder the “moving bed of ash” hearth 30 to facilitate and controlremoval of the ash.

Preferred for this invention when forestry products are used as thefeed, is a peppermill grate 40 ash system (see FIG. 7 which is a cutawayportion of FIG. 3, section 80). The peppermill grate 40 is known in theart and consists of a flat metal plate 39 that is perforated with amultiplicity of holes 41 for allowing the ash to fall through it. Overtop of the flat plate 39 is a moveable grate 42, that essentially coverspart of the holes 41 part of the time and allows other of the holes 41to be open. The grate 42 is also perforated with holes 43. As the grate42 is moved, generally in an oscillating motion, the ash is caused tofall through the holes 42 into the retention basins 29 below and theaugers 26 then move the ash to one end 27 where it is moved out of theretention bins 29 into a conveyor system (see FIG. 1) for transfer awayfrom the gasifier 1.

Another grate system 84 for the invention disclosed herein that issimilar to a peppermill grate is shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a sideview of a gasifier 1 of this invention with the sides open to show thegrate system 84. The grate system 84 consists of two grate rings 85 and86 (see FIG. 15) at the bottom of the gasifier 1. The bottom grate 85 isstationary and it has square openings 87 that are approximately 8 incheswide by 20 inches long. The top grate 86 is moveable, that is, activatedby two (not shown) hydraulic cylinders that have a stroke maximum ofabout 8 inches. Because the grate is round, this stroke rotates thegrate. The top grate 86 also has square openings 88. The hydrauliccylinders stroke the top grate 86 such that it aligns the squareopenings 87 and 88 and on the back stroke misaligns the openingscovering the bottom openings 87.

The top grate 86 has wedge plates 89 mounted on top of it. These plates89 are installed in such a way that when the top grate 86 is rotatingtowards the openings 88, the wedge plates 89 push the ash in front ofthem towards the openings 87 in the bottom grate 85. The movement andheight of the wedge plates 89 ensure measurable and constant ash removalfrom the bottom of the pile, preventing the ash bridging above the ashgrate openings. As the bottom layer of the ash is discharged, themixture of ash and unburned carbon from the above drops down lower. Asthe carbon burns, the process temperature in the vicinity of the ashdischarge thermocouples becomes higher indicating that the system has towait for the next ash dump.

As the carbon is more and more combusted and disintegrates, the bottomof the gasifier becomes colder and colder indicating that the ash onlyis left at the bottom of the gasifier and it is time for a new ash dump.

The portion of a segment of a feed cone 25 is shown surmounting thegrate 42. The grate 42 is surmounting the flat plate 39. At one edge 44of the grate 42, there is a pin 45 that attaches the grate 42 to theflat plate 39 and the grate 42 partially swings around the pin 45 suchthat the grate 42 moves in an oscillating motion. The swinging motion ofthe grate 42 moves the ashes that pile on the grate 42 and the flattable 39 and the ash falls through holes 41 and 43 into a bin below.Also shown are the bottom tuyeres 34.

It is preferred within the scope of this invention to eliminate thepeppermill grate system when the feed material into the gasifier 1 issoft, easily combustible materials, such as chicken litter, turkeylitter, or plastics, and the like.

As indicated supra, the gasifier 1 has a centrally located feed cone 25arranged along the centerline of the chamber and protruding above thegeneral elevation of the “moving bed of ash” hearth 30. The feed cone 25is serviced by a single, or twin set, of fuel feed augers 31 enteringvertically from below.

The feed cone 25 is circular (See FIGS. 5 and 5A) for the circulargasifier 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the feed cone 25 is square orrectangular (See FIG. 6 and 6A) for the loaf type of gasifier describedinfra.

It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to have the feedcones 25 be utilized as one single piece, that is a unitary article, forexample those shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A, respectively. However, it ispreferred that the feed cones 25 be segmented as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6so that they can more easily be moved into and out of the gasifier 1 forservicing, maintenance and repair. The segmented feed cones 25 can besimply set in place adjacent each other, or they can be mortaredtogether, or glued together to hold them in place. Obviously, thesegmented feed cones 25 shown in 5A and 6A are those used in themoveable feed cone described infra.

Also contemplated within the scope of this invention is the use of suchfeed cones 25 as non-moveable articles when in use in the gasifier.However, preferred for this invention are feed cones 25 that aremoveable, that is are moveable in a partial circular motion within thegasifier 1, such that they oscillate. (See FIGS. 5 and 6). The purposefor the moveable feed cones 25 is for providing oxidative gases throughthe burning solid mass pile 18 evenly so that creation of gas channelscan be voided. Periodic movement of the cone will prevent oxidative gasfrom burning holes between the gas sources and the surface of the pile.

In the gasifier, a partial primary method is one in which the combustionis carried out sub-stoichiometrically with the application of anoxidizing agent, which in this invention is flue gas mixed with apredetermined portion of fresh air, wherein the solid organic materialsare transferred continuously or intermittently to the gasifier 1 at apredetermined rate to maintain a mass of solid organic materials in thegasifier, and further wherein the oxidant is continuously added to thegasifier 1 to continuously gasify the solid organic materials in themass, and still further the solid residue (non-combustibles) aretransferred out of the gasifier. The oxidizing agent is administeredthrough a set or sets of suitable ducts connected to nozzles, preferablytuyeres and injection points located within, around and between the feedcones 25, and to a row, or line of nozzles and/or tuyeres in thesurrounding walls of the gasifier 1.

Thus shown in FIG. 3 are the upper tuyeres 32, and the lower tuyeres 33,and the bottom tuyeres 34 in the cone 25, all of which are used tofacilitate the movement of the air modified flue gas to the gasifier 1and into the burning solid mass 18. The upper tuyeres 32 are fed througha common manifold 35 and the lower tuyeres 33 are also fed through acommon manifold 36. The tuyeres 32 are linked to the manifold 35 by feedtubes 37 and the tuyeres 33 are linked to the manifold 36 by feed tubes38.

As can be observed from FIGS. 2 and 3, the manifolds 35 and 36 are fedfrom a flue gas return system, generally 48, that consists of a duct 49and an air motor 50.The inlet 51 of the air motor is attached to thesystem 60 (FIG. 1) for supplying fresh air-modified flue gas to the airmotor 50.

The gasifier 1 is equipped with an opening 15 for the movement of thesyngas produced by the method. The opening 15 has surmounted on it, afixture 52 for allowing the attachment of components that are used tohandle the syngas, which will be described infra.

Located in the lower portion of the housing 10 of the gasifier 1 is adevice for determining the amount of non-combustibles within thegasifier 1. Thus probes 53 can be used to monitor the level of movingash bed defined by the upper elevation of the accumulated ash. As anexample of probes 53, there are used thermo elements in pairs locatedone above the other, distanced sufficiently such that the level of themoving ash bed will be in between them, and capable of characterizationby the difference in temperatures and the temperature of the materialabove the moving ash bed while in operation. Said temperature differencewill then be the offset that will dictate the degree of auger 26movement required to control the level of the moving ash bed between theprobes. In this representation, it is assumed that gasifier 1 isequipped with several sets of probes 53, inserted through openings 55,around the perimeter of the chamber and an average of probe 53 inputdata will determine the auger 26 movements.

The floor 57 for the gasifier is located in the lower portion 12 of thegasifier 1, the floor 57 having a top surface and a bottom surface. Thefloor 57 has at least one opening through it to allow for the passage ofthe solid organic material into the interior of the gasifier 1.

To bring gasifier 1 to an operational condition on start up, the feedassembly 3 is activated to form the pile 18 of feed material in thegasifier 1 in preparation of development of a “moving ash bed” abovebottom 9. The pile 18 of feed material is ignited. To facilitatebringing the pile 18 of feed material up to its normal operatingtemperature, fuel oil or other readily combustible supplemental fuel maybe added to it. As an example, this may be done manually through anopening 54 provided in the wall of the gasifier 1.

As the oxidation proceeds and the temperatures elevate the solid mass 18will pyrolyze and gasify. Gas produced in the starved combustion siftsthrough the burning pile and into the upper portion of the burning pile18, the upper pile 18 acting as a filter for particulate material. It isimportant to conduct the combustion of the solid mass below the pile 18.The products of combustion rise through the pile 18 and cools becausethe latent heat of water absorbs the energy. As fuel comes, it getspyrolyzed and the fuel moisture and volatile hydrocarbons get separatedfrom the non-volatile components. These processes are driven by the hotgases that result from the combustion of the fixed carbon, which takesplace below the pile 18.

The moderately slow burning lower portion of the pile will serve toestablish a quiet oxidation zone whereby entrainment of particulatematter and fly ash is minimized. Syngas with a maximum of combustiblegaseous components and a minimum of particulate matter is one keyobjective of this invention.

Turning now to FIG. 8, which is a full front view of a loaf type ofgasifier 60, and FIG. 9 that is a full cross sectional view of agasifier 60 of FIG. 8 through line B-B, the gasifier 60 is defined byfour vertical side walls 61, giving the chamber a square or rectangularcross section and forming an enclosure 62 (FIG. 9) which has anirregularly shaped bottom 63 and which has at its top a roof 64, whichin cross section may be vaulted, tapered or flat or any combinationhereof.

Wall 61 is made up of a multiplicity of layers. In the preferredembodiment, FIG. 10A, the innermost layer 65 is an insulating layer of ahigh-temperature resistant type refractory that is capable ofwithstanding the elevated temperatures that will develop within gasifier60, for example, temperatures in the range of approximately 2300° F. toapproximately 2500° F., and that is capable of withstanding theoperational temperature variations as well as the corrosive, erosiveeffects of the gaseous materials produced by the oxidation of thebiomass feed material that is delivered into gasifier 60. Wall 61 mayalso include an insulating layer 66 on the outside of the wall layer 65to further prevent loss of heat through the wall 61 of gasifier 60. Asan example, the insulating layer 66 may be a single layer of insulatingfirebrick, block insulation, or blanket insulation. The outer casing ofthe wall 61 is a structural layer or shell 67 of sheet metal, forexample, plate steel, which is airtight and provides the necessarystrength and rigidity for the wall.

A second embodiment of wall 61 is shown in FIG. 10B, wherein insulatinglayer 66 is not used, and a vacant layer or space 58 is provided betweenrefractory innermost layer 65 and steel shell 67. The air which fillsvacant layer 68 acts as an insulator between refractory layer 65 andsteel shell 67. This warmed air can also be used as a source ofpreheated air for injection into gasifier 60 and recovery andregeneration equipment 96 and 98.

With further regard to FIGS. 8 and 9, the biomass feed material from thestorage hopper assembly (not shown) is introduced into gasifier 60 frombelow gasifier 60 through at least one feed cone 59 located along thecenterline of bottom 63 of gasifier 60. During normal operatingconditions, the feed material rises over the top of the feed cone(s) 59and rests on the hearth 70. Hearth 70 is made up of ash and other solidcombustion residues, until it forms a pile 71 of such material, which isthe normal or equilibrium condition of gasifier 60. This self-generatedhearth 70 is the “moving ash bed” configuration, that is an essentialpart of this invention and which is described Supra with regard togasifier 1. As primary oxidation progresses, this bed continues toelevate and the ash must be removed at essentially the same rate it isformed to maintain the appropriate fuel pile height.

As in the gasifier 1 described Supra, the control of pile height is ofimportance for combustion control and the release of gaseouscombustibles. The principles discussed Supra for the gasifier 1 applyequally well for the gasifier 60 and will not be repeated herein.

Returning to FIGS. 8 and 9, there are shown exit ducts 69 and they arepositioned so that it vents gasifier 60 through roof 64. It should benoted that prior art loaf gasifiers required that the exit for theproduced gases must be through the sidewall so as to minimize the flowof particulate materials along with the gas. Preferably, sidewalls 61are provided in a height which allows any air-borne particulate to fallback to pile 71 rather that exit via duct 69. The positioning of exitduct 69 within gasifier 60 can be as shown in FIGS. 8 or 9, and may besloped or vertical, and is selected to be practical and suitable for thespecific application.

As in the gasifier 1, Supra, the oxidizing agent is administered througha set or sets of suitable ducts connected to nozzles, preferably tuyeresand injection points located within, around and between the feed cones59, and to a row, or line of nozzles and/or tuyeres in the surroundingwalls of the gasifier 1.

Thus shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are the upper tuyeres 73, and the lowertuyeres 74, and the bottom tuyeres 75 in the cone 59, all of which areused to facilitate the movement of the air modified flue gas to thegasifier 60 and into the burning solid mass 71. The upper tuyeres 73 arefed through a common manifold 76 and the lower tuyeres 74 are also fedthrough a common manifold 77. The tuyeres 73 are linked to the manifold76 by feed tubes 78 and the tuyeres 74 are linked to the manifold 77 byfeed tubes 79. Just as in the tuyeres of the gasifier 1, the tuyeres ofthe instant invention are either on or off, and are not adjustable.

The modified flue gas return system useful in gasifier 60 shown in FIGS.8 and 9 can also be observed in FIG. 2, and this system is adaptable anduseful in the gasifier 60. The manifolds 76 and 77 of FIGS. 8 and 9 arefed from a flue gas return system as shown in FIG. 8, generally 48, thatconsists of a duct 49 and a fresh air motor 50. The inlet 51 of the airmotor is attached to the system 60 (FIG. 1) for supplying freshair-modified flue gas to the air motor 50. The details of the movementof the fresh air modified flue gas from the flue stack to the gasifieris set forth in detail infra.

It should be noted that the upper part of the lower portion 12 and thelower part of the upper portion 13 of the gasifier (FIG. 3) are modifiedfrom prior art devices in that, there is a constriction 80 of theinterior of the gasifier 60. This constriction 80 is built into thefirewall brick 65, or it can be formed from a plate that is set at anangle into the firebrick 65. The purpose of this constriction 80 is toslow down the product gas in its flow upward which results in anothermethod by which particulate material does not tend to reach the exitsports 69.

Feed rate into gasifier 60 is monitored and controlled by monitoring andcontrolling fuel pile height within gasifier 60 using the same radardevices 16 as set forth Supra. Suitable instrumentation, not shown, isprovided to control the rate of the delivery of the feed material intogasifier 60 by the feed assembly as a function of the elevation of thetop of the feed material in the height of pile 71 to maintain suchelevation at a substantially constant value, and thereby to contain thepile 71 of feed material at a substantially constant size.

Turning now to FIG. 11, there is shown an enlarged view of roof 64 forthe loaf gasifier 60, that shows the two exit ports 69 for syngaslocated on the roof 64. Also shown is a placement of a radar device 16on the roof 64, between the two exit ports 69. The dotted lines 84illustrate the beam of the radar 16 into the interior of the gasifier 1.FIG. 12 shows the roof 64 and the construction of the walls of the roof64. There is thus shown the outside, or steel wall 67, the insulatinglayer 66 and the interior firebrick wall 65. The component 82 is aflange that is useful for fitting the roof to the sidewalls of thegasifier 60.

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the specifics of the ash handlingsystem of the loaf gasifier as shown in FIG. 8. There is shown the ashhandling system 81 that includes the removable peppermill grates 42, theincreasing flight ash augers in the collection bin and retention bin 29,and the castable tuyere panels 83. Also shown is the exit of thecentered feed cone 59.

Turning now to FIGS. 1A and 1B and a description of a “system” of thisinvention, there is shown a schematic of a gasifier 1 of this inventionand its interconnection to the various components that can make up thesystem wherein the numbers in pentagons are the flow paths and variouscomponents of the system as describe infra.

Thus, shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a gasifier 1 that is fed a solid massmaterial 2 using an auger feed 3. Shown also is an ash removal system 4.Syngas 90 that is produced by the pyrolysis and gasification of thesolid mass material 2 exits the gasifier 1 through exit port 15 and intoa syngas burner 91 and into a syngas blower 92. The syngas 90 iscontrolled by draft controls 93. The syngas burner 91 is aided incombustion using a combustion air blower 94 that provides air 95 to thesyngas burner 91.

The syngas 90 is provided to the syngas burner 91 at a temperature ofabout 500° F. to about 600° F. and is in a starved air condition. Thispart of the system is unique to this type of gasifier system in that thenormal temperature of the air from prior art devices is in the range of1200° F. to 1400° F., and in prior art systems, this air is not “starvedair”, and before the prior art air can be used, it has to be cooled andcompressed, which means that additional and expensive equipment has tobe added to the system in prior art processes. The syngas burner 91heats and combusts the syngas 90 up to a temperature in the range of1200° F. to 1400° F. before the heated air 97 is provided to a lowNO_(x) oxidizer 96.

In a further embodiment, the syngas 90 can be provided to a kiln 98using a syngas blower 99 that moves the syngas 90 to a nozzle mix syngasburner 100. Thereafter the syngas 90 is moved through the nozzle mixsyngas burner 100 into the kiln 98. The heated air (about 2200° F.) fromthe kiln 98 is moved to the low NO_(x) oxidizer 96 and combined with thestarved air coming from the syngas burner 91.

The heating and movement of the heated air in the kiln 98 is aided bypassing heated air 101 from a heat exchanger 102 (see FIG. 1B) and alsomixing the heated air 103 with heated ambient air 105 being bleed intothe nozzle mix syngas burner 100 using a preheated combustion air blower104, along with additional heated air 101 from the heat exchanger 102that is bled 106 directly into the kiln 98.

The heated air 107 from the kiln 98 is fed into the low NO_(x) oxidizer96 and mixed therein with the air 97 being fed into the top portion ofthe low NO_(x) oxidizer 96. The low NO_(x) oxidizer 96 is fed ambientair 108 using a combustion/tempering air fan 109, through manifolds 110and tuyeres (not shown) and the air 111 that exits the low NO_(x)oxidizer 96 does so at about 2000° F. and passes to the heat exchanger102 shown in FIG. 1B.

Turning now to FIG. 1B, there is shown the heat exchanger 102 into whichthe heated air 111 has been passed and the exchanged air 112 is thenpassed to a metal heat exchanger 113 at about 1400° F., the metal heatexchanger 113 being useable because of the lower temperature of the air112. Air 114 is moved to the heat exchanger 102 and the heated air isthat used in the heat exchanger 102 for the exchange. The movement ofthe air 114 is aided by the introduction of fresh air 124 using an airblower 125.

Exchanged air having a temperature in the range of about 400° F. to1200° F. is the air 101 that is passed back to the kiln 98. The air 101has to be occasionally vented in order to control the temperature andpressure of the air 101 and this is shown at 116.

The heat-exchanged air 127 from the metal heat exchanger 113 is moved toan induction draft fan 115 before it enters the stack 117. Prior to airexiting 122 the flue stack 117, a portion of the flue gas 120 iswithdrawn from the stack 117 and moved to a flue gas eductor 118, whichis aided by a an induced draft fan 119. At this point, fresh air 128 isinducted and mixed with the flue gas 120 and it is this flue gasmodified with fresh air 121 that is moved back to the gasifier 1 as theoxidative gas for use in the gasifier 1. Also shown in FIG. 1B is asampling port 129.

1. A gasifier for gasifying solid organic materials comprising incombination: (I) a housing, said housing having a lower portion and anupper portion; (II) said housing having a circular side wall supportedby the lower portion and attached to the upper portion; (III) a roof,said roof being supported by and integral with the circular side wall;(IV) there being at least one opening through the roof for exitingsyngas effluent and at least one opening for a sensing device; (V)located at, and connected to, the roof opening, a device for removingthe gaseous effluent from the gasifier; (VI) located at, and associatedwith, the sensing device opening, at least one device for sensing theelevation of any mass of any solid organic material contained in thehousing, said sensing device being a radar device that is mounted overany sensing device opening and surmounts a non-metallic plate thatcovers the opening; (VII) located in the lower housing at least oneopening for supporting a device for determining the amount ofnon-combustibles within the gasifier; (VIII) located at, and connectedto, the lower portion of the housing, and within the opening of (VII),at least one device for determining the amount of non-combustibleswithin the gasifier; (IX) located in the circular wall, at least oneopening for supporting at least one device for providing oxidative gasto the solid organic materials, said oxidative gas being recirculatedflue gas containing a predetermined portion of fresh air; (X) locatedin, and connected to the oxidative gas opening, a device for providingan oxidative gas to the solid organic materials; (XI) a floor for thegasifier located in the lower portion of the gasifier, the floor havinga top surface and a bottom surface, said floor having at least oneopening therethrough to allow for the passage of solid organic materialinto the interior of the gasifier, wherein the top surface of the floorhas a retaining wall on the outside of each of the floor openings toform a retention basin to retain the solid organic materials in thelower portion of the gasifier to form a floorless hearth; (XII) a devicefor moving solid organic materials through the floor opening and intothe gasifier; (XIII) a device for providing and retaining a conestructure to the underside of the solid organic materials; (XIV) atleast one opening in the lower portion of the gasifier to allow movementof non-combustibles out of the gasifier; (XV) a device in the retentionbasin for removing non-combustible materials out of the gasifier; (XVI)a control and monitor for the amount of mass of solid organic materialwithin the gasifier and a control and monitor for the amount ofnon-combustibles in the gasifier, the mass control and thenon-combustible control being inter-related.
 2. A gasifier for gasifyingsolid organic materials comprising in combination: (I) a housing, saidhousing having a lower portion and an upper portion; (II) said housinghaving four side walls supported by the lower portion and attached tothe upper portion; (III) a roof, said roof being supported by andintegral with the four side walls; (IV) there being at least one openingthrough the roof for exiting syngas effluent and at least one openingthrough the roof for a sensing device; (V) located at, and connected to,roof opening, a device for removing the gaseous effluent from thegasifier; (VI) located at, and associated with, the sensing deviceopening, at least one device for sensing the elevation of any mass ofany solid organic material contained in the housing, said sensing devicebeing a radar device that is mounted over any sensing device opening andsurmounts a non-metallic plate that covers the opening; (VII) located inthe lower housing at least one opening for supporting a device fordetermining the amount of non-combustibles within the gasifier; (VIII)located at, and connected to, the lower portion of the housing, andwithin the opening of (VII), at least one device for determining theamount of non-combustibles within the gasifier; (IX) located in the sidewalls, at least one opening for supporting at least one device forproviding oxidative gas to the solid organic materials, said oxidativegas being recirculated flue gas containing a predetermined portion offresh air; (X) located in, and connected to, the oxidative gas opening,a device for providing an oxidative gas to the solid organic materials;(XI) a floor for the gasifier located in the lower portion of thegasifier, the floor having a top surface and a bottom surface, saidfloor having at least one opening therethrough to allow for the passageof solid organic material into the interior of the gasifier, wherein thetop surface of the floor has a retaining wall on the outside of each ofthe floor openings to form a retention basin to retain the solid organicmaterials in the lower portion of the gasifier to form a floorlesshearth; (XII) a device for moving solid organic materials through thefloor opening and into the gasifier; (XIII) a device for providing andretaining a cone structure to the underside of the solid organicmaterials; (XIV) a device for heating the solid organic materials whileabove the retention basin; (XV) at least one opening in the lowerportion of the gasifier to allow movement of non-combustibles out of thegasifier; (XVI) a device in the retention basin for removingnon-combustible materials out of the gasifier; (XVII) a control andmonitor for the amount of mass of solid organic material within thegasifier and a control and monitor for the amount of non-combustibles inthe gasifier, the mass control and the non-combustible control beinginter-related.
 3. The gasifier as claimed in claim 1 in which the devicein the retention basin is a pepper grate surmounted over at least oneauger.
 4. The gasifier as claimed in claim 2 in which the device in theretention basin is a pepper grate surmounted over at least one auger. 5.The gasifier as claimed in claim 1 in which the device for providing andretaining a cone structure to the underside of the solid organicmaterials is non-moveable during use of the gasifier.
 6. The gasifier asclaimed in claim 2 in which the device for providing and retaining acone structure to the underside of the solid organic materials isnon-moveable.
 7. The gasifier as claimed in claim 1 in which the devicefor providing and retaining a cone structure to the underside of thesolid organic materials is moveable during use of the gasifier.
 8. Thegasifier as claimed in claim 2 in which the device for providing andretaining a cone structure to the underside of the solid organicmaterials is moveable during use of the gasifier.
 9. The gasifier asclaimed in claim 1 in which each device for supplying oxidative gas tothe solid organic materials is a tuyere.
 10. The gasifier as claimed inclaim 2 in which each device for supplying oxidative gas to the solidorganic materials is a tuyere.
 11. The gasifier as claimed in claim 11in which each of tuyeres in a common line is provided the oxidative gasfrom a common manifold.
 12. The gasifier as claimed in claim 12 in whicheach of the tuyeres in a common line is provided the oxidative gas froma common manifold.
 13. The gasifier as claimed in claim 11 in which thecommon manifold is provided with oxidative gas from a flue stack locatedin a system in which the gasifier is operating and, the oxidative gas isflue gas containing a portion of predetermined fresh air.
 14. Thegasifier as claimed in claim 12 in which the common manifold is providedwith oxidative gas from a flue stack located in a system in which thegasifier is operating and, the oxidative gas is flue gas containing aportion of predetermined fresh air.
 15. The gasifier as claimed in claim13 wherein the tuyeres in a common line are such that the tuyere lineencircles the housing of the gasifier.
 16. The gasifier as claimed inclaim 15 wherein the tuyeres in a common line are such that the tuyereline defines the outside surface of the housing of the gasifier.
 17. Thegasifier as claimed in claim 15 wherein there is at least one commonline of tuyeres above any burning activity in the gasifier and at leastone common line of tuyeres below any burning activity in the gasifier.18. The gasifier as claimed in claim 16 wherein there is at least onecommon line of tuyeres above any burning activity in the gasifier and atleast one common line of tuyeres below any burning activity in thegasifier.
 19. The gasifier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conestructure is provided with at least one array of tuyeres formed in theinner surface and with at least one array of tuyeres formed in the outersurface.
 20. The gasifier as claimed in claim 2 wherein the conestructure is provided with at least one array of tuyeres formed in theinner surface and with at least one array of tuyeres formed in the outersurface.
 21. A method of gasifying solid organic material to produce agaseous effluent and a solid residue, said method comprising: (I)providing a supply of solid organic material; (II) providing a gasifieras claimed in claim 1; (III) introducing the solid organic materialsfrom (I) into the gasifier upwardly from a lower portion of the gasifierto provide a mass of solid organic materials in the gasifier; (IV)heating the solid organic materials in the gasifier while providing anoxidative gas to the gasifier to provide a gaseous effluent, saidoxidative gas being recirculated flue gas from a flue stack located in asystem in which the gasifier is operating and, the oxidative gas is fluegas containing a portion of predetermined fresh air; (V) providing aneffluent path of flow within the gasifier for a portion of the gaseouseffluent to migrate, mix, and react through the heated solid organicmaterials and wherein syngas formed thereby is transferred outwardlyfrom the gasifier; (VI) transferring any non-combustible solids out ofthe gasifier.
 22. A method of gasifying solid organic material toproduce a gaseous effluent and a solid residue, said method comprising:(I) providing a supply of solid organic material; (II) providing agasifier as claimed in claim 2; (III) introducing the solid organicmaterials from (I) into the gasifier upwardly from a lower portion ofthe gasifier to provide a mass of solid organic materials in thegasifier; (IV) heating the solid organic materials in the gasifier whileproviding an oxidative gas to the gasifier to provide a gaseouseffluent, said oxidative gas being recirculated flue gas from a fluestack located in a system in which the gasifier is operating and, theoxidative gas is flue gas containing a portion of predetermined freshair; (V) providing an effluent path of flow within the gasifier for aportion of the gaseous effluent to migrate, mix, and react through theheated solid organic materials and wherein syngas formed thereby istransferred outwardly from the gasifier; (VI) transferring anynon-combustible solids out of the gasifier.
 23. A gasifier for gasifyingsolid organic materials comprising in combination: (I) a housing, saidhousing having a lower portion having a top part and an upper portionhaving a bottom part; (II) said housing having a circular side wallsupported by the lower portion and attached to the upper portion, saidcircular side wall having a constricted section where the top part ofthe lower portion and the bottom part of the upper portion meet andjoin; (III) a roof, said roof being supported by and integral with thecircular side wall; (IV) there being at least one opening through theroof for exiting syngas effluent and at least one opening for a sensingdevice; (V) located at, and connected to, the roof opening, a device forremoving the gaseous effluent from the gasifier; (VI) located at, andassociated with, the sensing device opening, at least one device forsensing the elevation of any mass of any solid organic materialcontained in the housing, said sensing device being a radar device thatis mounted over any sensing device opening and surmounts a non-metallicplate that covers the opening; (VII) located in the lower housing atleast one opening for supporting a device for determining the amount ofnon-combustibles within the gasifier; (VIII) located at, and connectedto, the lower portion of the housing, and within the opening of (VII),at least one device for determining the amount of non-combustibleswithin the gasifier; (IX) located in the circular wall, at least oneopening for supporting at least one device for providing oxidative gasto the solid organic materials, said oxidative gas being recirculatedflue gas containing a predetermined portion of fresh air; (X) locatedin, and connected to the oxidative gas opening, a device for providingan oxidative gas to the solid organic materials; (XI) a floor for thegasifier located in the lower portion of the gasifier, the floor havinga top surface and a bottom surface, said floor having at least oneopening therethrough to allow for the passage of solid organic materialinto the interior of the gasifier, wherein the top surface of the floorhas a retaining wall on the outside of each of the floor openings toform a retention basin to retain the solid organic materials in thelower portion of the gasifier to form a floorless hearth; (XII) a devicefor moving solid organic materials through the floor opening and intothe gasifier; (XIII) a device for providing and retaining a conestructure to the underside of the solid organic materials; (XIV) adevice for heating the solid organic materials while above the retentionbasin; (XV) at least one opening in the lower portion of the gasifier toallow movement of non-combustibles out of the gasifier; (XVI) a devicein the retention basin for removing non-combustible materials out of thegasifier; (XVII) a control and monitor for the amount of mass of solidorganic material within the gasifier and a control and monitor for theamount of non-combustibles in the gasifier, the mass control and thenon-combustible control being inter-related.
 24. A gasifier forgasifying solid organic materials comprising in combination: (I) ahousing, said housing having a lower portion with a top part and anupper portion with a bottom part; (II) said housing having four sidewalls supported by the lower portion and attached to the upper portion;said side walls having a constricted section where the top part of thelower portion and the bottom part of the upper portion meet and join;(III) a roof, said roof being supported by and integral with the fourside walls; (IV) there being at least one opening through the roof forexiting effluent and at least one opening through the roof for a sensingdevice; (V) located at, and connected to, the roof opening for theexiting of effluent, a device for removing the gaseous effluent from thegasifier; (VI) located at, and associated with, the sensing deviceopening, at least one device for sensing the elevation of any mass ofany solid organic material contained in the housing, said sensing devicebeing a radar device that is mounted over any sensing device opening andsurmounts a non-metallic plate that covers the opening; (VII) located inthe lower housing at least one opening for supporting a device fordetermining amount of non-combustibles within the gasifier; (VIII)located at, and connected to, the lower portion of the housing, andwithin the opening of (VII), at least one device for determining theamount of non-combustibles within the gasifier; (IX) located in the sidewalls, at least one opening for supporting at least one device forproviding oxidative gas to the solid organic materials, said oxidativegas being recirculated flue gas containing a predetermined portion offresh air; (X) located in, and connected to, the oxidative gas opening,a device for providing an oxidative gas to the solid organic materials;(XI) a floor for the gasifier located in the lower portion of thegasifier, the floor having a top surface and a bottom surface, saidfloor having at least one opening therethrough to allow for the passageof solid organic material into the interior of the gasifier, wherein thetop surface of the floor has a retaining wall on the outside of each ofthe floor openings to form a retention basin to retain the solid organicmaterials in the lower portion of the gasifier to form a floorlesshearth; (XII) a device for moving solid organic materials through thefloor opening and into the gasifier; (XIII) a device for providing andretaining a cone structure to the underside of the solid organicmaterials; (XIV) a device for heating the solid organic materials whileabove the retention basin; (XV) at least one opening in the lowerportion of the gasifier to allow movement of non-combustibles out of thegasifier; (XVI) a device in the retention basin for removingnon-combustible materials out of the gasifier; (XVII) a control andmonitor for the amount of mass of solid organic material within thegasifier and a control and monitor for the amount of non-combustibles inthe gasifier, the mass control and the non-combustible control beinginter-related.
 25. A system for gasification of solid waste materials,said system comprising in combination: (A) a gasifier as claimed inclaim 1; (B) at least one oxidizer, and, (C) at least one heat recoverydevice.
 26. A system as claimed in claim 25 wherein, in addition, thesystem has a device for moving flue gas from a flue stack of the system,mixing the flue gas with inducted fresh air and moving the combinationof flue gas and fresh air to the gasifier.
 27. A system for gasificationof solid waste materials, said system comprising in combination: (A) agasifier as claimed in claim 2; (B) at least one oxidizer, and, (C) atleast one heat recovery device.
 28. A system as claimed in claim 27wherein, in addition, the system has a device for moving flue gas from aflue stack of the system, mixing the flue gas with inducted fresh airand moving the combination of flue gas and fresh air to the gasifier.29. A system for gasification of solid waste materials, said systemcomprising in combination: (A) a gasifier as claimed in claim 23; (B) atleast one oxidizer, and, (C) at least one heat recovery device.
 30. Asystem as claimed in claim 29 wherein, in addition, the system has adevice for moving flue gas from a flue stack of the system, mixing theflue gas with inducted fresh air and moving the combination of flue gasand fresh air to the gasifier.
 31. A system for gasification of solidwaste materials, said system comprising in combination: (A) a gasifieras claimed in claim 2; (B) at least one oxidizer, and, (C) at least oneheat recovery device.
 32. A system as claimed in claim 31 wherein, inaddition, the system has a device for moving flue gas from a flue stackof the system, mixing the flue gas with inducted fresh air and movingthe combination of flue gas and fresh air to the gasifier.
 33. A methodof gasifying solid organic material to produce a gaseous effluent and asolid residue, said method comprising: (I) providing a supply of solidorganic material; (II) providing a gasifier as claimed in claim 24;(III) introducing the solid organic materials from (I) into the gasifierupwardly from a lower portion of the gasifier to provide a mass of solidorganic materials in the gasifier; (IV) heating the solid organicmaterials in the gasifier while providing an oxidative gas to thegasifier to provide a gaseous effluent, said oxidative gas beingrecirculated flue gas from a flue stack located in a system in which thegasifier is operating and, the oxidative gas is flue gas containing aportion of predetermined fresh air; (V) providing an effluent path offlow within the gasifier for a portion of the gaseous effluent tomigrate, mix, and react through the heated solid organic materials andwherein syngas formed thereby is transferred outwardly from thegasifier; (VI) transferring any non-combustible solids out of thegasifier.
 34. A method of gasifying solid organic material to produce agaseous effluent and a solid residue, said method comprising: (I)providing a supply of solid organic material; (II) providing a gasifieras claimed in claim 24; (III) introducing the solid organic materialsfrom (I) into the gasifier upwardly from a lower portion of the gasifierto provide a mass of solid organic materials in the gasifier; (IV)heating the solid organic materials in the gasifier while providing anoxidative gas to the gasifier to provide a gaseous effluent, saidoxidative gas being recirculated flue gas from a flue stack located in asystem in which the gasifier is operating and, the oxidative gas is fluegas containing a portion of predetermined fresh air; (V) providing aneffluent path of flow within the gasifier for a portion of the gaseouseffluent to migrate, mix, and react through the heated solid organicmaterials and wherein syngas formed thereby is transferred outwardlyfrom the gasifier; (VI) transferring any non-combustible solids out ofthe gasifier.
 35. A method of producing syngas, the method comprising:(I) providing a supply of solid organic material; (II) providing agasifier as claimed in claim 1; (III) introducing the solid organicmaterials from (I) into the gasifier upwardly from a lower portion ofthe gasifier to provide a mass of solid organic materials in thegasifier; (IV) heating the solid organic materials in the gasifier whileproviding an oxidative gas to the gasifier to provide syngas, saidoxidative gas being recirculated flue gas from a flue stack located in asystem in which the gasifier is operating and, the oxidative gas is fluegas containing a portion of predetermined fresh air; (V) providing aneffluent path of flow within the gasifier for a portion of the gaseouseffluent to migrate, mix, and react through the heated solid organicmaterials and wherein syngas formed thereby is transferred outwardlyfrom the gasifier; (VI) transferring any non-combustible solids out ofthe gasifier.
 36. A method of gasifying solid organic material toproduce syngas and a solid residue, said method comprising: (I)providing a supply of solid organic material; (II) providing a gasifieras claimed in claim 2; (III) introducing the solid organic materialsfrom (I) into the gasifier upwardly from a lower portion of the gasifierto provide a mass of solid organic materials in the gasifier; (IV)heating the solid organic materials in the gasifier while providing anoxidative gas to the gasifier to provide syngas, said oxidative gasbeing recirculated flue gas from a flue stack located in a system inwhich the gasifier is operating and, the oxidative gas is flue gascontaining a portion of predetermined fresh air; (V) providing aneffluent path of flow within the gasifier for a portion of the gaseouseffluent to migrate, mix, and react through the heated solid organicmaterials and wherein syngas formed thereby is transferred outwardlyfrom the gasifier; (VI) transferring any non-combustible solids out ofthe gasifier.
 37. A method of gasifying solid organic material toproduce syngas and a solid residue, said method comprising: (I)providing a supply of solid organic material; (II) providing a gasifieras claimed in claim 24; (III) introducing the solid organic materialsfrom (I) into the gasifier upwardly from a lower portion of the gasifierto provide a mass of solid organic materials in the gasifier; (IV)heating the solid organic materials in the gasifier while providing anoxidative gas to the gasifier to provide syngas, said oxidative gasbeing recirculated flue gas from a flue stack located in a system inwhich the gasifier is operating and, the oxidative gas is flue gascontaining a portion of predetermined fresh air; (V) providing aneffluent path of flow within the gasifier for a portion of the gaseouseffluent to migrate, mix, and react through the heated solid organicmaterials and wherein syngas formed thereby is transferred outwardlyfrom the gasifier; (VI) transferring any non-combustible solids out ofthe gasifier.
 38. A method of gasifying solid organic material toproduce syngas and a solid residue, said method comprising: (I)providing a supply of solid organic material; (II) providing a gasifieras claimed in claim 24; (III) introducing the solid organic materialsfrom (I) into the gasifier upwardly from a lower portion of the gasifierto provide a mass of solid organic materials in the gasifier; (IV)heating the solid organic materials in the gasifier while providing anoxidative gas to the gasifier to provide syngas, said oxidative gasbeing recirculated flue gas from a flue stack located in a system inwhich the gasifier is operating and, the oxidative gas is flue gascontaining a portion of predetermined fresh air; (V) providing aneffluent path of flow within the gasifier for a portion of the gaseouseffluent to migrate, mix, and react through the heated solid organicmaterials and wherein syngas formed thereby is transferred outwardlyfrom the gasifier; (VI) transferring any non-combustible solids out ofthe gasifier.